AT ITS annual general meeting at the weekend delegates to the Committee for the Defence of Iranian People’s Rights (Codir) conference called for opposition to war in the Middle East, while supporting the call of the Iranian people for peace and solidarity with the Women, Life Freedom movement in the forefront of the struggle for social justice and equality in Iran.

The conference was addressed by international trade union leader Kemal Ozkan, assistant general secretary of IndustriALL Global Union, representing 50 million workers in 130 countries, and Azar Sepehr from the Democratic Organisation of Iranian Women.

Both speakers stressed the need for continued solidarity with Iranian workers in their struggle for peace, democracy and social justice while stressing the dangers faced by the people of Iran if the current conflicts in the Middle East escalate further.

Mr Ozkan outlined the extent to which trade unionists are repressed by the regime with no legal right to exist independently and no right to strike or take any form of industrial action. Activists not only suffer arrest and torture but have been subject to capital punishment for carrying out their basic trade union duties.

He stressed that IndustriALL will continue to support the struggle of workers in Iran and applauded their ability to continue to organise and often win demands under such oppressive conditions.

Ms Sepehr emphasised the significance of the struggle in the social as well as the industrial sphere and highlighted the particular contribution of women in Iran. The Modesty and Hijab Law, introduced in 2024, is awaiting final approval by the Iranian president and will introduce even stricter restrictions upon the way in which women can dress. 

The law is being opposed by activists in the Women, Life, Freedom Movement and a letter signed by 140 journalists in Iran recently condemned the law for its excessive punishment proposals and as an affront to human dignity. Journalists have been threatened with imprisonment for taking a stand against the law.

Ms Sepehr also emphasised the role played by women political prisoners in promoting the No to Executions campaign on behalf of all political prisoners in Iran.

Codir general secretary Gawain Little said that the AGM demonstrated that the messages from Codir were getting through but emphasised that more work was needed to ensure that the labour movement understood the plight of the people of Iran.

“We have come a long way in the past year in emphasising the importance of peace, democracy and social justice as being the key demands of the Iranian people themselves,” he said. 

“Our solidarity work will always take that as a starting point and we will continue to be a strong voice in the labour movement advocating solidarity with the people of Iran on that basis.”

The AGM agreed motions supporting demands for peace in the Middle East and supporting the campaigns for social justice and against the execution of political prisoners in Iran. A motion on organisational development was referred to the executive committee for further discussion and implementation.

Finally, the AGM elected 15 nominated candidates for membership of the central executive committee (CEC). Activists from Britain, Canada, France and Germany are represented on the CEC and will guide the executive in the work of Codir during 2025.

The next AGM will be held in autumn 2025.